Beach Tennis, Anyone? Deerfield To Host Inaugural Tourney

October 8, 2009|ELIZABETH ROBERTS eroberts@tribune.com

It's a sport that in just over 30 years has won a following from France to China. This month, it comes to Deerfield Beach.

On Oct. 24 and 25, Deerfield Beach will play host to the nation's first international beach tennis tournament. Roughly translated, that means an estimated 200 professional and amateur beach tennis players from as far away as Italy will descend on Deerfield Beach, just north of the pier, and play for a world cup.

For that, credit Adrienne Cerra. The Miramar resident likes tennis; she has played since she was 15. But the self-described beach-tennis aficionado, who has the license to introduce beach tennis in the United States, says her long suit is organizing events.

And that explains why, on Sept. 15, she asked Deerfield Beach commissioners for permission to host a tournament north of the pier. After some discussion, city officials agreed, and so later this month, players and those merely wishing to play will descend on the city's eight volleyball courts with paddle-shaped racquets.

Beach tennis can best be described as volleyball with equipment. Developed in Italy by Giandomenico Bellettini, it involves a higher net, larger rackets and the same kind of ball as is used in regular tennis, only depressurized so that it is soft on impact. As in volleyball, players change sides at each odd set end or at each set end. The idea is to keep the ball in the air, and the need to volley every shot requires some fancy footwork - no easy task in the sand.

"It's good cardio because it is not easy to run in the sand and you have to get every ball because it won't bounce," Cerra said. "It's a lot of fun, very fast and a great workout."

The sport has a following in 67 countries on six continents. Good reason, Cerra said, to introduce it to South Florida. Registration is $25 per person, which includes a voucher for lunch at Oceans 234, an event sponsor.

As Cerra explained it to city officials, she envisions teams from Italy, France, Brazil, Aruba and Puerto Rico - professional athletes - playing against local teams on four of six courts near the existing volleyball courts.

"The staff met with Adrienne, and the nets aren't in the ground, so there is no problem," said George Edmunds, the city's acting parks and recreation director.

He wasn't so amenable to her request for three rows of bleachers, however.

"It's turtle season, so no," he said.

Player registration is $25. Spectators are free. Winners get a cup with medals going to runners-up. Cerra said she plans to donate 25 percent to cancer research.

The Beach Tennis World Cup gets under way just north of the Deerfield Beach International Fishing Pier, on the sand in front of JB's on the Beach, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. To learn more about the sport of beach tennis, see www.mybeachten nis.net. To register to play in the tournament, e-mail beachtennisifbt@aol.com.